Accelerator pedal



Nov. 6, 1923.

' J. R. MlCKELSEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL Filed April 13, 1922 i T v 11 2 M912 01 Jesse 2. MicKelsen.

Patented Nov. 5, i923.

lgtlhltit JES$E R. MICKELSEN, OF SAN LEANDEO, CALIFORNIA.

ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Application filed April 13, 1922.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. Jnsen lViioKnLsnN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of San Leandro. county of Alameda, State of California. have made a new and useful invention-4o wit. Improvements in Accelerator Pedals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise. and exact description or" the same.

This invention relates particularly to an accelerator pedal for operating the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine.

An object of the invention is to provide an accelerator pedal that will stay placed in any predetermined position and which will not require constant foot pressure to maintain the throttle in a desired position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foot pedal fitted more accurately to the shape of a foot and which, as a part of the complete device. forms an apparatus that is superior in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness ot operation. facility and convenience in use and general efficiency as contrasted with other devices of a similar character. @ther objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses.

In this specification. and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best. but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form. because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description. it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawinogs:

Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic sectional view through automobile body. illustrating the application of my invention to the throttle valve of the automobile engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of my device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged cross section taken through Fig. 3 on the line 4t--4.

In .detail. the construction, illustrated. in the drawings comprises an automobile body. generally designated by the numeral 1, and having the internal combustion engine 2 mounted under the hooded portion 3 of said body. The engine 2 is provided with the usual type of intake manifold 2, connect-- Serial No. 552,354.

ing the cylinders of said engine with a suitable carburetor at. A conventional type of butterfly or throttle valve is mounted within the manifold 2 connected to the carbure tor, said valve being operated by an arm 6 extending exteriorly of the manifold and which is pivotally connected by the arm 7 to an accelerator pedal. Although the construction thus far described applies more particularly to the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, it is to be understood that the apparatus for controlling the said throttle valve could be used equally as well on any sort or type of engine wherein valve control would be necessary.

The accelerator pedal comprises a base member 8, secured bythe carriage bolts 9 to the floor board 10 ot the automobile body. The base 8 is provided with vertical side standards 11 and 12 on opposite sides there of. each. of which are suitably drilled with aligned openings. A pair of stub shafts 14 are provided with enlarged shouldered portion 15 thereon. said shoulderedportions being adapted to fit within the openings provided in the side standards 11 and 12. Each oi the said stub shafts are provided with beads 16 thereon to limit the inward move ment thereof. A pair oi friction disc washers 17 and 18, formed from thermoid packing or other similar composition. are adapted to be mounted on each. of the shafts 1 1 and to lie contiguous to the side standards 11 and 12 of the base. The washers 17 and 18 are drilled to fit. the smaller diameters of the shafts 14. permitting the washers 17 to rest against the shouldered portions 15 on the shafts 14. e

A foot plate or pedal 20 is provided with a depressed heel rest portion 21 and toe portion 22 and has depending side lugs 23 and 24 thereon. lhe side lugs 23 and 24 are suitably drilled with aligned openings. each of which is adapted to have the shafts 14 pass therethrougrh so that the said plate 20 will be pivotally mounted on the shafts 14 supported on the side standards of said base 8. Ring annuluses 25 are fixedly secured to the ends of each of the shafts 14 and the compression springs 26 are interposed between each of said ring annuluses and the inner faces of the respective depending lugs 23 and 24. The compressive action of the spring 26 tends to force the ring head 25 and each of the shafts 14 away from the inner faces of the depending lugs,

plate has-a depending arm 27 proje'cting therefrom which extends through a slot 28 provided therefor, through the base 8, enabling said arm to be pivotally connected to the rod 7, previously referred to as being secured to the throttle valve of the internal combustion engine. In order to provide a durable and strong construction, the under face of the plate 20 has a longitu dinally extending, reinforcing web 29thereon, whichmerges into the arm 27.

The construction. thus far described, relates to the formation of an apparatus in which a frictional relationship between an immovable and movable part governs the entire mode of operation. To comprehend the application of my accelerator pedal in all instances, I have found that a tension spring .30 may be secured to the end of the arm 27 and to a stationary part of the vehicle, in orderto maintain the heel portion of said pedal near the'flooring of the automobile and to elevate the toe portion-of the plate. In such a case, the control rod -7-, secared to the throttle valve of the engine, would be pivota'lly secured to the bearing 31, provided therefor on the under side of the toe portion of said plate 20. Thus, by clepressing the elevated toe portion 22 (as shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 1) against the tension of the spring 30, the same resultant action will be obtained as where the connecting rod is secured to the end of the plate arm 27.- Either form of connection permits of an absolutely steady acceleration,

- resulting in a fuel economydue to the steady movement.

ing projection on said plate adapted to be 6O spring means secured to the throttle valve of an inteinal combustion engine and mounted on said shaft and pressing against said base standard for maintaining a fric-' tional contact betwen said friction disc and the plate lug and base standard. 7 r 1 2. A device such as described comprising 7 i a base having side standards; aligned stub shaftsmounted in each of said side standards; a plate, having heel and toe portions thereon, pivoted intermediate its ends to each of said shafts and adapted to be con nected to the'throttle valve ofan internal combustion engine and friction meansi-nterposed between said plate and side standards for maintaining said plate in a predetermined pos1t1on relative to said base.

3. A device such as describedcompr sing a base having side standards; aligned shafts, mounted .m each of said side standards friction discs mounted on said'shafts adjacent said side standards; a plate, having heel and toe portions thereon and depending side lugs pivoted ther-ethrough on said shafts; a depending projection on said plate, 7

adaptedto be secured to the throttle valve of an internal combustion engine; and spring means mounted on said shafts and. pressing against said side lugs for maintaining a frictional contact betwen said friction discs and the plate lugs and base standards.

invhand at San Francisco, California,this

25th day of M l-ch, 1922;

JESSE R. MioKE sEN; In presence of r 7 LINcoLN V. J OHNSON.

'90 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 

